HICKEYS MUSIC CENTER

104 Adams Street

Ithaca, NY 14850
www.hickeys.com
1.800.HICKEYS

USING THE BREATH BUILDER

(Phillip J. Swanson, Northern Arizona University)
Used Properly and regularly, the Breath Builder will increase the amount of air you inhale and can
use in a wind instrument. It will enable you to increase the volume and pressure of air you use while
playing. This should result in increased volume and greater control.
I suggest using it as follows before you begin a practice session.
At all times, attempt to take in and expel the largest amount of air you possibly
can. This will often entail using your abdominal and some other muscles more
completely than you ever have before.
1.Leaving all holes open, raise the ball and keep it suspended while you
inhale and exhale thoroughly through the Breath Builder for one or
two minutes.
2.Take a break of thirty seconds to one minute (or longer if needed.)
3.Close the large hole and repeat process described in number 1 above.
4.Take another break of similar length or as needed.
5.With all holes open, raise the ball to its suspended state and close the
large and one small hole while keeping the ball suspended as in 1
and 2 above. Continue the inhalation/exhalation process for one to
two minutes with the hole closed. Because of the greater pressure
required both inhaling and exhaling with the large and one small
hole closed, this configuration is the most valuable to increased
breath control.

Stop using the Breath Builder and rest any time that you feel dizzy or become
disoriented. This is the result of taking in more oxygen than your body is used
to handling. This condition will abate you as you use the Breath Builder
regularly.
If you take a break of two or more hours, us the Breath Builder again (as above) at the beginning of your
practice session.